This is perfectly normal. My daughter just started 1st grade this year. She did well in some areas in kindergarten, while not so well in others. You will get an idea of the things your son needs to work on when you go to the 1st parent/teacher conference to discuss the grades. I think you are doing the right thing in making learning more fun. My daughter's kindergarten teacher offered ideas such as getting some shaving cream, and practicing writing on the walls during bath time. Get an easel with a chalk board on one side and a white board on the other. Keep paper, crayons, pencils and markers all over the house. Just keep it fun. Hope this helps. Good luck!

How did he do in preschool? I had a freind with a silimar situation, and she decided to keep her daughter back in kindergarten for another year. Now she is more of the class leader and has more confident then the year before.

all kids going in to kindergarden are scarred and they want to do there best. But when they can't they get fustrated and then they don;t like school keep telling him he can do it will build his confedence
when my daughter was in kidergarden she didn't want me to leave and maybe volunteer in his class might help him too
anita

wow...your post brought back memories! My son had his areas of concern for pre k and k. I agree, let education be fun or else. As for other creative ides, finger painting lines or curves. Crayons. Markers (washable ones of course for easy clean up). Outdoor chalk on the driveway or sidewalk is fun and creative. Chalk on a chalk board.

With my son, his pre-k teacher really wanted to help him gain the strength to do all those necessary motor skills so she was more than willing to work with me/us so she recommended palying with clay instead of play doh. She also took the time to learn who he is as an individual; especially since he has such a strong imagination. Like your child, mine is interested in super heroes! YAY for children with imagination!!

Like you, we stressed about my child's performance and had many talks with the teacher/s. You can imagine how much I was also relieved when his teacher told me to relax and stop stressing. She said, "You just wait and see. Children truly are like sponges soaking up all the knowledge and processing as they learn. By the time he is in third grade he will show all that he has been learning."

So reading the comment about that one make me smile and shake off my worry from this year. This is second grade for my son and yes we are going through some of the same issues again. On a good note: my son has already started to bond with his teacher and starting to settle down sooner than last year.....so it does get better! It just takes a while for the next teacher to see the beauty in the indiviual child.

Oh and just for the sake of sharing what schools can misunderstand and over react about;

This year in art class the students were allowed to draw a picture on the board. The other students were suppose to guess what the picture was. They didn't guess my son's so he became frustrated and cried. He told them the thing in the picture would kill them. He was right since he drew a picture of something from his imagination: he drew a toxic waste backpack with a hose and a nozzle.

Because I wanted an advocate for my son, I called his 1st teacher and told her about this event. Since she knows him so well, she laughed out loud she commented; "That's him and that is how creative he is." She knows he is a good kid who doesn't mean any harm and that the school isn't seriously concerned that he is going to harm any one there. The new teacher will learn too.

The art teacher misunderstood and sent him to the guidance counselor. New year + new teachers = new surprises and misunderstandings. What helps my son manage and cope through the changes is our communication. He is rewarded for his good choices and positive actions. And yes he knows he must accept the consequences of the wrong choices....its all about choices.

I do wish you and your child the best as time passes. Children are going through changes with each year and sometimes it takes more than a few weeks for them to adjust to the new routines and expectations. Be supportive and understanding with your son. I think our children do best under those circumstances.

:) Thank you Dodges. I appreciated your post! He's getting better although we still have a long road ahead of us. I will give it time to determine if I will hold him back (but probably will not). All kids learn on their own continuum. He's way advanced in his verbal ability and math skills, and has less patience/interest in writing. he's very interested in learning about the human body and how it works. I think I may have a future doctor. LOL - bad handwriting and all! =)

I am a social worker in an elementary school, and I also am a parent to a kdg student. Kdg is a difficult step for children, especially if they didn't attend preschool. Did your son go to any preschool type program before this year? I agree, the Dec 1st cutoff doesn't make sense and is harder on the younger ones. Is your son in a half day or full day class? Sounds like he would do better with a half day class. it is still early yet, he will be fine, just encourage him and give him time. Boys notoriously have less developed fine motor skills(writing and drawing) than girls, my son included. That will come with time. The mazes are great, but also make a game out of drawing the lines and curves/circles. The more fun you make it the less stressed he will be. Schools flip out over those type of "blow up the school" comments, but we have to remember this is a 4 year old boy who has no idea what he is saying is such a big deal. I think he will adjust just fine.

P.S.I would almost NEVER hold back a kdg student. We dont' advocate for that at all. Send them to first grade.